Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions and answers will help inform you of many hearing related issues. If you have any other questions, please contact one of our offices and we will be happy to answer them.

Hearing Loss

Hearing Aids

Does earwax cause hearing loss?

Earwax, or cerumen, is an oily, fatty substance that is created to protect the ear canal. Each individual creates different amounts of wax. It is possible for the wax to partially or completely occlude the ear canal. This can result in a mild to moderate conductive hearing loss that can be resolved once the wax is removed. Your Hearing Health Center audiologist can let you know if you have a wax buildup and how it can be removed.

 Can I afford a hearing aid?

  • MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express are accepted.

  • We have taken the cost out of buying batteries for the life of your hearing instruments through our Complete Hearing Health Care (CHHC) plan. *The FDA defines the life of a hearing instrument as 5 years.

  • Click here for the insurance plans we accept.

  • Hearing instruments vary in cost depending on level of technology, your particular hearing loss, and your lifestyle.

  • To determine which instrument is best for you, talk to us regarding your needs. We offer a wide range of products to fit each individual's hearing loss and budget.

What are the statistics of hearing loss?

Over 31 million people suffer from hearing loss. Hearing loss is present in 3 out of every 10 adults between the ages of 50 and 64 and 4 out of every 10 adults ages 65 and over.

What are some symptoms of hearing loss?

  • Others complain you have the television too loud
  • You have problems hearing birds or wind
  • You have difficulty hearing female voices or children
  • You have difficulty hearing in groups
  • You find yourself confusing words or making silly mistakes misunderstanding conversations
  • Other people (friends and family members) think you have a hearing loss

What symptoms indicate the need for a medical evaluation?

  • Bleeding/draining from your ears
  • Head trauma
  • Sudden hearing loss
  • Balance problems
  • Ear pain
  • Fluctuating hearing loss
  • Ringing in ears
  • Feeling of fullness or pressure in ears

What is the ringing in my head/ears?

The ringing sensation that can be detected in your head, or individual ears, is called tinnitus. This ringing is usually an indication of some damage to your auditory system (especially noise damage). It can be constant or periodic and on one specific side or in the middle of your head. There is no magic cure for tinnitus, but there are methods that can help you live with it. Sometimes hearing instruments can help by bringing more sound to the brain, thus distracting attention from the ringing. If you have ringing consistently on one side, you will want to ask your doctor about it.

What are some causes of hearing loss?

  • Noise exposure (military, hunting, music, industrial, racing, power saws, lawn mowers)
  • Heredity
  • Certain chemotherapy and radiation treatments
  • Certain heavy-duty antibiotics
  • Head trauma
  • Wax
  • Ear infections
  • Viral infections

How is hearing loss classified?

Your ability to hear is as unique as your fingerprint. No two people have exactly the same hearing impairment.

Hearing loss is classified by several factors: degree, understanding ability, location of loss along the speech frequencies, and type of loss .

Degree: Degree refers to the amount/severity of the hearing loss. Hearing loss is ranked mild (slight difficulty hearing in daily environment), moderate (difficult to hear most sounds in your daily environment), severe (extremely difficult to hear all sounds in daily life) or profound (deaf).

Understanding Ability: Hearing and understanding are different. You may be able to hear sounds but not understand what is being said. Sometimes understanding ability is impaired as a result of a hearing loss. This is usually measured by a percentage of your understanding of random words.

Location of Loss Along Speech Frequencies: Usually hearing loss does not affect all speech frequencies the same. For example, loud sounds damage hearing ability in the high frequencies. This creates a problem hearing sounds that are high in pitch (i.e. female or children's voices, birds, consonant sounds like "s" and "t"). Some other hearing losses, from head trauma or ear infections, can affect the low pitches (i.e. male voices, loudness, vowel sounds).

Is there anything I can do to restore my hearing?

 Usually hearing loss is permanent. Consult with your doctor to see if your symptoms are medical in nature and need any treatment, especially if you have a sudden hearing loss. Even hearing instruments will not restore normal hearing. Hearing instruments will make previously missed sounds available at the level of stimulation your auditory system needs at that particular pitch.

Why do I only have difficulty hearing in crowds?

If you have difficulty hearing in crowds, you could have a high-frequency hearing loss. With this type of loss, you can hear well in one-on-one situations and even in small groups. However, when you get around distracting speech/noise, you can hear the noise louder than the speech. Your normal low-frequency hearing picks up the low-pitched noise at a normal-hearing level, while you miss some of the high-frequency speech sounds, where your hearing loss is located, that bring in clarity. This hearing loss is not as noticeable when speaking with someone without any competing noise.

Why do I have a difficult time hearing female voices when I can hear male voices easily?

You may have a high-frequency hearing loss. Female voices, children's voices, and even a majority of speech understanding lies in the high frequencies. If you have a high-frequency hearing loss you probably have a hard time hearing high-pitched sounds, such as your wife's voice. You may hear the low frequency sounds normally but miss the high frequency sounds.

I do not have a problem hearing, but I have a problem understanding.

Hearing and understanding are two different things. It is possible to hear something and not understand. This may be due to a high-frequency hearing loss. Most consonant sounds are high in pitch and bring clarity to speech. They help you discriminate between different words (i.e. pick, tick, brick, lick, sick). If you have a high-frequency hearing loss, you miss the consonant clarity sounds while hearing the volume from the low pitches.

Will wearing a hearing aid restore my hearing to normal?

Unfortunately, NO. Hearing aids are exactly as the name implies, aids. They will not restore your hearing to normal, but they will make most sounds available to you at your hearing level. Research shows that a large majority of aidable hearing loss can be helped with hearing aids.

Do I need two hearing instruments?

If you have a hearing loss in both ears, it is recommended that you wear a hearing instrument in each ear. You can hear better out of two good ears than one.

 Better Hearing With Both Ears

  • With equal inputs coming from both sides to the brain, it is easier to understand conversation.
  • With good hearing in both ears, it is easier to determine the direction, or source, of sound.
  • When you hear well out of two ears, it boosts the loudness of the signal.
  • Two good ears hear better in noise than one.

Is there a hearing aid that can eliminate background noise?

No hearing instrument can completely eliminate background noise. Most of the time, background noise is speech, which is the exact same signal that the hearing instrument is trying to amplify. Some hearing instruments can lessen the effects of non-speech noise while some hearing instruments can boost the sounds in front of you while decreasing those behind you. This second method works well when you are facing the speaker you want to hear and when you have your back to noise you do not want to hear. This effect is referred to as directionality.

What is the "best" hearing instrument on the market?

There is not one "best" hearing instrument on the market. A hearing instrument that works well for one individual may not produce the same results for someone else, since everyone has different listening needs. Each major manufacturer makes a product that is highly comparable to other manufacturers' products.

How do I know what size hearing aid I need?

Different types of circuitry come in all sizes. Selection of a size depends upon your personal preference, your ear canal size, and your hearing loss. The smallest size is a Completely In the Canal (CIC) and fits deep into your ear canal. It is removed by pulling a string. The next size is an In The Canal (ITC), which fits into your canal and is usually only visible from the side. An In The Ear (ITE) fills your entire ear and a Behind The Ear (BTE) hooks on to the top of your ear and goes behind it. Even if the smallest CIC is not appropriate for you, keep in mind that hearing instruments are less noticeable than hearing loss.

Learn more about the types of Hearing Instruments available

My friend did not have a positive experience with hearing aids.  Will the same happen to me?

Everyone's hearing loss is unique. Although someone you know may have had a negative experience with hearing instruments, you may not have the same experience. Hearing instruments and technology vary. Do not base your hearing upon someone else's experiences.

Do hearing instruments need repair?

Yes, occasionally hearing instruments need repair. Hearing instruments are exposed to a damp, waxy environment on a daily basis. Because of this, and normal wear and tear, you can expect to face a repair or two during the life span of your hearing instrument. If your hearing instrument is being repaired more than you are able to use it, then it may be time to consider new instruments.

 How long does it take to adjust to new hearing instruments?

You should notice results within minutes, but it may take several months to completely realize the benefits of your new hearing instruments. Hearing tends to deteriorate gradually over time, so when sounds are reintroduced to the brain in a 30-minute fitting session, it can be overwhelming. The brain may have to relearn the classification of some sounds. Even though it may take several months to completely adjust to hearing through hearing instruments, it should only take a week or two for you to notice benefits.

Whose responsibility is rehabilitation?

Successful rehabilitation depends upon you, your hearing professional, and your support group. It is very important that you communicate openly with us and that you understand realistic expectations of hearing instruments. Also, it is very important to receive support from your friends and family members. Discuss your experience with them and explain your need for their encouragement and understanding. Hearing instruments do not always give immediate results. They may require technical adjustments by the Hearing Health Center audiologists along with determination and patience on your part.

Besides hearing aids, what is available to help me hear?

Assistive listening devices are available to help you hear the television, telephone, doorbell, alarm clock, baby cries, and different listening environments. Call us to find out more about these products.